According to media reports, the 40-year-old Georgian national appeared before the Nicosia District Court judge where he was ordered to remain behind bars until his criminal trial begins on December 20.

Police sources said the investigators got the man to confess following days of mounting evidence against him.

On November 12, according to the confession, the suspect stabbed 56-year-old Yianoula Hadjiyianni outside her Oikos village in Marathasa. The victim, a store manager, had picked the suspect up during her lunch break and gave him a ride in the backseat, while another female in the front passenger seat had stepped off moments before the crime.

The victim was attacked from behind with the killer stabbing her 16 times in the upper torso and neck, while the fatal stab went straight to the heart. Sources also said the victim had only one defensive wound, suggesting she did not have time to react at the vicious attack.

Money was also stolen from the vehicle while an eyewitness told police she had seen the whole thing but couldn’t do anything to stop it.